Who is a lama in Buddhism

2024 Author: Miguel Ramacey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 06:11

In the list of world religions, Buddhism has one of the most significant places. In fact, this is not so much a religion as a philosophical teaching: the Buddha himself said that there are no gods as the Creators of the Universe.

He even struggled with the phenomenon of paganism in his homeland (in Hinduism there is a whole pantheon of different gods and their avatars). In modern terms, the Buddha was an ardent atheist: he forbade his students to be distracted by thoughts about any gods. In Buddhism, it is believed that the world did not arise by itself, there was some reason for the world to arise, and it arose.

Buddhism is a living teaching

It adopts scientifically based facts, an approach to research and study of the surrounding world, and is adjusted over time. Buddhism does not stand still, it is constantly evolving.

For example, in Buddhist treatises it was written that the Earth is flat. But science has proven that the earth is round. And the Buddhists accepted it: they said, “Our thinkers of the past were wrong about this. Science has proved that the Earth is round,” and began to live in peace with this knowledge. There is no place for mysticism in Buddhism, there is logic and understanding of the work of human consciousness. This teaching currently has 414 767000 officiallyregistered followers worldwide.

Buddhism has many branches and schools. This happened due to the fact that after the death of the Buddha, his disciples had disagreements on some issues, and the Teacher was no longer alive, so there was no one to judge them. One of these offshoots is Tibetan Buddhism.

Who is a lama in Buddhism

In translation from the Tibetan language, lama means "the highest", "spiritual mentor".

The word "Lama" has a deep meaning: for a Buddhist, a Lama is a person whom he treats like his own father, as well as one who helps to follow the Path of Enlightenment.

In Tibetan temples, lamas are called clergy who have reached a certain spiritual level, who have decided to dedicate their lives to following the Path.

Sometimes a lama in Buddhism is not a cleric or a monk in a Tibetan temple. This can be an ordinary worldly person who has reached a high spiritual level and can become a teacher for those Tibetan Buddhists who do not want to be bound by vows and live in a monastery.

How to become a lama in Buddhism

Any tired of the endlessly spinning Wheel of Samsara can become a lama.

The basic requirements for those who wish to become a lama are the same for everyone:

1. If there is an irresistible desire to become a lama in order to be a spiritual mentor and teach people, you need to get rid of this ambition, because pride is not good.

2. Develop the qualities of a bodhisattva.

3. Relentlessly develop and learn: Lamamust be a wise and interesting person.

4. Learn the practices of the Vajrayana Tantras. These practices should be taught to the future lama by his personal lama teacher.

5. Receive initiations, vows, initiations, commitments and transmissions.

The hierarchical ladder of Tibetan lamas

There is a hierarchy of lamas in Buddhism: "beginners" have low ranks, but any lama can advance to a higher level.

The highest levels are inaccessible to ordinary people, but first things first.

Hierarchy of "non-embodied" lamas - lower ranks

Unincarnated lamas are ordinary people who, at a young age, for some reason and belief, decide to enter a monastery, dedicate themselves and their lives to the service of all living beings.

Bandi (rabjung) is a novice who is obliged to fulfill vows and obligations exactly for several years in order to prove that he is worthy of being a lama. It used to be possible to become a rabjung at the age of 6. Nowadays, rabjungs are accepted only from the age of 17-18, after graduating from a general education institution.

At the age of 14, Bandi takes the rank of getzula, and now he has 36 vows and related obligations. At the age of 21, Getsul takes the rank of Gelonga, and together with the rank, he takes 253 vows with obligations.

Lama scholars stand above

In Tibetan Buddhism there is a system of academic lama degrees. Learned Buddhist lamas enjoy great reverence and respect among both other lamas and lay people.

Scientific lamas are engaged in the interpretation of the dogmas of faith, shamanic healing, astrology. It is they who, with the degree of Geshe, draw up a special horoscope and calculate the approximate place, name and time of the reincarnation of a lama from the highest echelon.

They also took part in the political life of Tibet, calculated happy or unlucky days for the rulers, and also acted as their advisers.

There are only 5 academic degrees:

1. Rabchjampa - even a seventh-year student can get this degree if he studies diligently, passes all exams and tests without tails.

2. Doramba is a special academic degree.

3. Gabju.

4. Tsogramba.

5. Geshe - "friend of virtue" - a doctor of Buddhist sciences, in worldly terms.

A lama from the lower hierarchy can become a scientist, for this he must study the highest dogmatics of Buddhism - the Tsanid system.

Lamas study the Tsanid system in only one school, which is called Gelung-pa. The course of study lasts from 12 to 20 years.

Reincarnating lamas - tulkus

Tulku is the highest hierarchy of lamas in Buddhism. These are authoritative priests who are en titled to a high rank only upon the fact of their birth.

Buddhist philosophy speaks of bodhisattvas - great masters who have reached the highest point of spiritual development and can rightfully go to Nirvana after the earthly shell has served its end.

But these people are so noble and merciful to everyone living on the planet that, instead of finallybreak out of the Wheel of Samsara, they agree to voluntarily incarnate again and again in order to serve and help all living beings.

Before leaving their old body and incarnating in a new one, the great masters leave clues to their students where to look for a new incarnation. If for some reason the hierarch did not indicate the place of his future birth, this is done by the oracle, into which the deity resides, and indicates the place of the new birth.

Sometimes the favorite disciples of the great master, among whom there are learned lamas, make a special horoscope, which reveals where to look for a new incarnation of the tulku. After a certain time (from one to three years), the best and favorite students of the highest lama go to the indicated regions and begin to search for little boys, who should be from one to three years old.

They enter homes, meet parents and babies, and offer them the toys and objects of the deceased great master. Usually it is a rosary, a bell, a drum, an amulet and a book. If a boy takes the things of the deceased guru and does not want to say goodbye to them, he protests, cries and shouts: “Give it back! This is mine!”, which means, most likely, a new incarnation of the great master has been found.

But everything is not so simple, the child needs to go through several procedures for recognition by other high lamas, and in the end by the Dalai Lama himself. If the Dalai Lama recognizes the tulku, he cuts the boy's hair and gives him a new name.

After the confession, the boy is taken home and asked for the consent of the parents to take the baby to the monastery, where he will live and study, and subsequently serve for the goodof all living beings. Usually the parents give consent, although this decision is given to them with great difficulty.

The detailed procedure for finding and recognizing a tulkus is shown in the documentary "The Chosen One" - this is a true story about how the new incarnation of the great master Lama Konchong was searched for.

Hierarchy of higher lamas - unearthly noble people

Supreme Lamas - Consciously Reborn Great Masters - few, but the most important in the hierarchy:

• Panchen Lama;
• Dalai Lama.

Each of these people can freely stop earthly incarnations and rest in Nirvana, but they prefer to return to Earth to help and benefit all living beings. For this, they are infinitely respected not only by Tibetan Buddhists, but also by representatives of other religions and even atheists.

Second in rank after the Dalai Lama is the Panchen Lama. He has the highest spiritual authority, but has no political and secular influence. The first incarnation of the Panchen Lama was in 1385

The most important on the hierarchical ladder in Tibetan Buddhism is the Dalai Lama. Dalai - great as the ocean Lama - the embodiment of the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara.

Who is Avalokitesvara

As a monk, Avalokiteshvara was very compassionate to all living beings, he swore to Buddha Amitabha that he was ready to sacrifice his personal peace, joy and peace, if only to free all living beings from the bonds of Samsara. And if this fails, then let it be torn to piecesparts.

Avalokiteshvara did it. But new people were born on Earth. He also freed them from the bondage of Samsara. And then new ones were born. The Bodhisattva led them to Nirvana. But then new, new and new people began to be born, many people…

Then Avalokitesvara realized that he was unable to keep his vow, and from great sorrow his head was split into eleven pieces, and his body into thousands.

Buddha saw this and said: "Do not grieve, because the main thing is your intention - this is the cherished desire of all buddhas." And brought him back to life. Since then, Avalokiteshvara has had 11 heads so that he can see all parts of the world and a thousand hands with which he is able to convey compassion and love to every living being.

The first incarnation of the Dalai Lama

This event happened in 1391 and lasted until 1474. His name was Gendun Oak. This was a very wise man. He wrote several treatises on logic and 6 volumes of commentaries on the most important Buddhist primary sources.

In 1447, Gendun Dub founded Tashilhunpo, one of the largest monasteries in Tibet.

He received the title of Dalai Lama in Buddhism posthumously, after little Gendun Gyatso told his parents that he was the reincarnation of Gendun Duba. After that, the boy became the second Dalai Lama.

The current incarnation of the Dalai Lama

Ngagwang Lovzang Tenjin Gyamtsho made a political decision not to reincarnate again. Or choose a successor while still alive. The exact decision will be made by His Holiness whenhe will be 90 years old. The Dalai Lama is currently 83 years old.

We hope that during these 7 years the Chinese authorities will change their tactics towards His Holiness in general, and towards His reincarnations.